Envelop-opener.



J. F. FITZP ATRIGK.

ENVELOP OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED APKJB, 1913.

1 ,O99,975, Patented June 16, 1914 JAMES F. FITZPATRICK. or AUBURN, mo m ISLAND.

ENVELOP-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Application filed April 18, 1913. Serial No. 762,151.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. Frrzmr- RICK, citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for envelops for the purpose of expediting the opening of the same, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention-is to provide a simply constructed device which may be readily applied without material structural change to envelope of various sizes and forms and without structural change in the envelop, and may be readily transferred from one envelop to another or from an envide a simply constructed device whereby an envelop may be quickly opened without injuring'the contents.

With these and other objects in view the invent-ion consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment. of the invention Figure 1 is a view of'an envelop open with the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the improved attachment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 3:3 of F ig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device may be applied to envelops of various forms and sizes and without mutilating the envelop, but for thepurpose of illustration is shown applied to a conventional envelop in which 10 represents the front, 11 the back, 12-13 the end flaps, and 1 1 the closure flap, these parts be ing of the usual construction.

The improved attachment comprises a strip of flexible material, such asrelatively tough ribbon 15 which is enlarged at one end to form a finger grip 16 and with the\ over the folded strip is a U shaped metal clip 18. The strip 15 is designed to be located within the envelop with one edge bearing against the material of the envelop at the fold between one of the ends and the front, for instance the end 12, with the folded over terminal 17 bearing over the upper edge of the end flap with the clip 18 likewise bent over-the folded over portion, so that when pressure is applied to the sides of the clip the latter is compressed against the outer and inner face of the flap and thus securely couples the strip 15 to the envelop.

The clip 18 is formed of sufiicient resiliency and strength to cause it to firmly remain in its compressed position, andthus securely hold the parts together. The enlargement 16 is extended through the joint between the end member 12 and the back 11 and protrudes beyond the material of the envelop, and thus forms an effectual finger clip to enable the device to be actuated. The enlargement 16 may be formed in any suitable manner, but is preferably constructed by tying a knot in the end of the strip as shown. The strip 15 being thin and relatively wide does not obstruct or interfere with the contents of the envelop, or cause the envelop to appear bulky or cumbersome. The presence of the strip is not perceptible from the outside, and the only difference in appearance of the envelop containing the opening device over an ordinary envelop is the presence of the slightly projecting terminal 16, and the latter does not in any manner detract from the application of the envelop or interfere with its ordinary uses. When theenvelop is sealed the closure flap 14: covers the projecting portion of the terminal 17 and the clip 18 so that they are not only protected from surreptitious access, but entirely concealed from observation.

When an envelop provided with the improved at-tachment is to be opened the operator with the fingers of one hand exerts an outward or pulling force upon the strip 15 by clasping the projecting. terminal lG with the effect of tearing the end of the en- "velop open, and the strip 15 together with its clip 18 .is separated from the envelop and remain in the operators fingers, leaving the envelop o n for' removal of the contents. The 'opemng operation isv quickly accomplished, and if desired the strip 15 together with its clip 18 and enlargement 16 may be retained for application to another envelop, as the strip is not injured when removed from the envelop.

The body of the member 15 may be 'constructed of relatively wide and tough material such as ribbon or the like, and may be very quickly applied and repeatedly used.

aving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An envelop opener comprising a metal member in U-shape and with a fabric member inserted at one end within the metal member with the terminals of the .metal member bent inwardly to engage in the fabric member, the metal member together with the portion of the fabric member disposed between the sides of the metal member adapted to be engaged over the edge of an envelop with the fabric member within the envelop and next to one of the folds thereof.

2. An envelop opener comprising a metal member in U-shape, and a fabric member inserted at one end within the metal member, the metal member together with the portion of the fabric member disposed between the sides of the metal member adapted to be engaged over the edge of an envelop with the fabric member within the envelop next to one of the folds thereof and the closure flap foldable overthe outer, portion of the metal member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. FITZPATRIOK. L 5.

Witnesses:

LEON S. SANDERS, CHARLOTTE M. MARTIN. 

